OpenTravel Awards Industry Leaders for Their Service
CIO of Continental Airlines, Travel Technology Consultant are Award Recipients at 2008 Advisory Foru
APRIL 29, 2008. The OpenTravel Alliance (OpenTravel), the travel industry's leading distribution standards development organization, announced the winners of the Tom Grubbs Award and the Setting the Standard Award at its 2008 Advisory Forum held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ron Anderson-Lehman, SVP and CIO of Continental Airlines, was awarded the Tom Grubbs Award as he exemplifies OpenTravel's passion and commitment to travel distribution. Tom Grubbs was a founder and instrumental participant in the OpenTravel. With his long experience at TWA Airlines and Avis Rent A Car, he had a vision of a travel industry with no barriers. He was the key proponent of the car rental workgroup, keeping his industry's best interests in mind while never forgetting the goals of OpenTravel. He was dedicated and brought a sense of humor to the OpenTravel that will forever be missed. Through his spirit and innovative thinking, Tom Grubbs is responsible for making the OpenTravel the success it is today.
Continental Airlines was a founding member of OpenTravel, and Anderson-Lehman was a member of OpenTravel's board of directors from 2001 until 2007, including one year as Vice Chair.
'Continental has believed since the beginning in the value of open standards, and we have implemented OpenTravel's air and rental car messages as a part of our extensive direct connect program,' said Anderson-Lehman. 'I enjoyed my time on the board of directors, and continue to support OpenTravel by attending the Advisory Forum and by allocating a substantial number of Continental staff to participate in OpenTravel's project teams, work group and other committees. I appreciate OpenTravel's recognition of my time and Continental's ongoing commitment to the organization.'
'Ron has been generous with his time and his staff's time,' said John Turato, chair of OpenTravel's board of directors and vice president of technology for Avis Budget Group. 'Tom Grubbs was a valued colleague of mine, and Ron absolutely embodies the spirit of Tom's dedication and commitment to OpenTravel. I was very pleased to be able to personally present this award to Ron.'
Also recognized was Tony Williams, winner of the Setting the Standard Award. Williams is a technology consultant who specializes in travel distribution technology and XML. He represents the Travel Technology Initiative (TTI) on OpenTravel's various project teams and work groups, and currently is the chair of OpenTravel's Interoperability Committee.
'I was surprised and flattered to be voted for the 2008 Setting the Standard award,' said Williams. 'It has been a pleasure working with so many dedicated people to produce the OpenTravel specifications over the past few years. I am grateful to the Travel Technology Initiative Ltd. for the opportunity to represent its members in the OpenTravel workgroups and committees.'
The Setting the Standard Award is given to a person who is nominated and voted on by OpenTravel members.
About the OpenTravel Alliance
The OpenTravel Alliance is passionate about solving the problems inherent with connecting multiple systems within the complex travel distribution arena.
OpenTravel's mission is to engineer specifications that make data transmission flow smoothly throughout travel, tourism and hospitality. OpenTravel creates, expands and drives adoption of open universal data specifications, including but not limited to the use of XML, for the electronic exchange of business information among all sectors of the travel industry.
With a diversified membership representing influential names in all sectors of the travel industry, OpenTravel is comprised of representatives from airlines, car rental firms, hotels, cruise lines, leisure suppliers, service providers, tour operators, travel agencies, and trade associations. Thousands of message structures are in use, carrying tens of millions of messages between travel trading partners every day. For more information, visit www.opentravel.org.
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